The goal of the project: to obtain DNA markers for each of the 12 chromosomes of pine by mapping sequence differences between Pinus halepensis and P. brutia on the genetic map of loblolly pine. The project includes analysis of cDNA sequences, conversion to genomic sequences and mapping.

Students who are interested in the project should have basic knowledge in bioinformatics programs.

About The Volcani Center

Located at the Volcani Center campus in Bet-Dagan, near Tel-Aviv, ARO’s six institutes are responsible for Plant Sciences, Animal Science, Plant Protection, Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, and Postharvest and Food Sciences. ARO also operates four research stations, in various parts of the country, and serves as a testing center for agricultural produce and equipment. Israel’s Gene Bank for Agricultural Crops is also located on the ARO Volcani Center campus.

While encompassing the full range of agricultural research activities, ARO focuses in particular on arid zone agriculture, enabling Israel – a country short of all the resources required for agriculture – to achieve among the highest levels of agricultural output in the world.

Among ARO’s areas of special expertise are:

• agriculture under arid conditions
• agriculture on marginal soils
• irrigation using effluent and saline water
• crop cultivation in protected environments
• freshwater fish farming under conditions of water shortage
• minimization of produce losses through use of latest pest control and post-harvest storage methods
• breeding and development of new strains of crops and domestic animals better suited to the adverse conditions which already exist in many parts of the world, and which are likely to become even more prevalent in the future